Site plans for new school on agenda

The Genoa school board is scheduled to open bids this week for preliminary work on the site where a new elementary school will be constructed.

Board members plan to meet Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. to open the bids for what is called an “early site package” that covers grading, drainage, extending utilities to the site, and related issues, said Bill Nye, district treasurer.

The board and administration held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new school on Sept. 16.

Voters in November approved a 1.9-mill, 28-year bond issue that will be used to fund the local share of construction costs for the new school as well as renovations to the high school building.

The bond issue is expected to generate about $5.2 million for the project while the Ohio School Facilities Commission will provide funding for the balance of the costs.

“Once the bid opening is completed the architect and construction manager will get together to award a contract,” Nye said. “With every phase the plans get more detailed.”

Cost estimates are just over $16 million for the planned 80,000-square-foot school, which will be built at the middle school/high school campus on Genoa-Clay Center Road, he said.

The school board met in a special session Oct. 1 to discuss a contingency plan required by the OSFC that will set aside local funding to meet possible cost overruns on the project.

In addition to constructing a new elementary school, the district plans to use bond issue revenues to replace the roof at the high school and renovate the auditorium, science labs, gym, locker rooms, and add restrooms for community use.